City of Pikeville and UPike continue to grow

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (WYMT) - Pikeville City Hall is preparing to move, and officials say this move means much more than added office space

Officials say the relocation of City Hall not only symbolizes the growth of the city but also the University of Pikeville.

Finishing touches are being made for City Hall to move from the Academy Building, to the old Lightyear building,

Pikeville City Manager, Donovan Blackburn says, "The Academy Building was first opened up as an institution of higher learning which then turned into the University of Pikeville. The city has signed a deal with the University of Pikeville and we are leasing the building to them long-term."

University officials say the academy building which was built in 1889 is very special to the campus community. UPike President-Elect James Hurley says, " We are very excited, as an alum of the institution, the alumni base is very excited to have the original building back in the hand of its rightful owner, the University of Pikeville."

This is all because as the city has continued to grow, so has the university. Blackburn says, "If you look at the city over the past 10 year census, we are one of the few communities in the eastern part of the state that grew more than 10 percent in population, that's pure growth. In the past 10 years we have had more than 150 new business that popped up in the community."

Hurley says, "This building will be utilized as an educational building. We plan on moving a division into a separate college for the institution."

Neither city officials or university officials say they are done growing. Hurley says, "We are focused on meeting the institutional needs but also regional needs and those two things go hand in hand. That is what has allowed us to grow and it has been fun and we certainly are not finished."

The relocation for City Hall will allow all city departments and offices to be located under one roof.

City Hall will be closed this Thursday and Friday. City Hall will reopen in the new building on Monday, April 29th.

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